Has anybody heard the Josh Freese album?<\/p>\n
The Internet not only allowed anybody to make and distribute music, it allowed them an opportunity to try and sell it.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, we’ve got millions of mini-Madonnas, familiar with her biography from music television, they figure if they just get in enough people’s faces, evidence their raw desire, they will be successful.<\/p>\n
But that was a different era.\u00c2\u00a0 One of gatekeepers, wherein it was incredibly difficult to pass through the filter.\u00c2\u00a0 Furthermore, Madonna knew her audience, she started off in clubs. Today’s "artists" have got no understanding of the marketplace, they just know they can send their message to zillions of people instantly, and doggone it, statistics tell us if just a tiny percentage of people bite, they’ll be a success.<\/p>\n
But that’s spam, not music.\u00c2\u00a0 Spammers don’t sell unproven items, they’re moving Viagra, other discounted\/grey market\/fraudulent iterations of what many people already desire. It’s kind of like knock-offs.\u00c2\u00a0 You want that twenty five dollar Rolex.\u00c2\u00a0 But you don’t want a twenty five dollar watch with a no-name brand and a bland look that will deliver no recognition from acquaintances, no bang for the buck.\u00c2\u00a0 Unless, of course, that watch is truly unique.\u00c2\u00a0 In which case, you’ve got the new Franck Muller.\u00c2\u00a0 Then again, how many new Franck Mullers are there?<\/p>\n
In other words, it’s the music, stupid.<\/p>\n
In the old days, the days of the gatekeeper, the filter, we had what were called "turntable hits".\u00c2\u00a0 Labels paid radio to play ’em, but no one bought ’em.\u00c2\u00a0 And, in case you missed a memo, record companies have historically been in the business of selling records, radio airplay doesn’t pay.\u00c2\u00a0 So what you end up with in this case is a sea of red ink.<\/p>\n
Still, one thing the old system did was to squeeze out the riff-raff.\u00c2\u00a0 Sour grapes was only heard by friends and family.\u00c2\u00a0 Now, people go online and tell you how the big boys just won’t pay attention.\u00c2\u00a0 Ever think you’re not good enough?<\/p>\n
Never.\u00c2\u00a0 These people are delusional.<\/p>\n
The quality level required to interest those not related, those not sleeping with you, is unbelievably high.\u00c2\u00a0 How many people get to be quarterback of an NFL team?\u00c2\u00a0 Fewer than fifty start.\u00c2\u00a0 And so many fans bitch, teams complain that their starting quarterback just isn’t good enough, that they can’t compete with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.\u00c2\u00a0 Is there a shortage of people desirous of the job?\u00c2\u00a0 Hell, there are fatsos sitting on the couch watching the big screen right now who would quit their gig and run to the stadium, if capable, to be the quarterback of their favorite team, ANY team.\u00c2\u00a0 But they know they’re just not good enough.\u00c2\u00a0 They’d be laughed off the field.\u00c2\u00a0 Done after one hit.\u00c2\u00a0 But somehow, people who create music believe they’re entitled to an audience, that the public must pay attention, that they must be heard.<\/p>\n
But they’re not.<\/p>\n
So they resort to extreme marketing.<\/p>\n
Mr. Freese has never done anything solo musically that’s garnered any attention. Furthermore, he’s a drummer, a player in a band who’s not known for his sense of melody. But, now he can draw attention to his solo efforts via innovative marketing.\u00c2\u00a0 But can he get anybody to listen to his music?<\/p>\n
How about that guy Moldover, with the theremin built into his CD case.\u00c2\u00a0 Hell, most people his age don’t even want the CD, unless it’s as a souvenir of the live gig.\u00c2\u00a0 I watched his YouTube video <\/p>\n
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